PSK2a is required for cambial development and xylem formation during secondary growth in poplar.

PSK2a is required for normal cambial activity and secondary xylem development during secondary growth in poplar, with both overexpression and knockout inhibiting vascular formation.

• Why it matters: Direct genetic evidence linking PSK peptide signaling to cambium and secondary vascular development in woody plants has been limited.
• What they did: The study identified nine PSK family members in Populus trichocarpa, then created PtrPSK2a overexpression lines in hybrid poplar 717 and CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts targeting PtaPSK2a_HAP1 and HAP2 in hybrid poplar 717.
• The result: Both gain- and loss-of-function lines showed reduced plant height and stem diameter, and histology revealed fewer cambium cell layers, narrower xylem, and fewer vessels, with broad downregulation of cambial and vessel differentiation genes.

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